Strand guiding means

ABSTRACT

Two series of parallel rods are arranged adjacent each other in a crossed pattern to define guide openings through which wires may pass to a closing die. The rods may be rotatably journaled to reduce wear and may also be mounted in a floating frame to provide transverse movement.

United States Patent Inventors Stephen R. Baker Michael F. Hatter, Bethlehem, Pa. 1 Appl. No. 738,313 Filed June 19, 1960 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 Assig'nee Bethlehem Steel Corporation STRAND GUIDING MEANS 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 226/199, 72/428, 140/2 Int. Cl B65h 23 32, B21d43/l6,B65h 27/00 Field of Search 72/428,

[ 5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,032 l/] 963 Teplitz 72/250 3,060,773 10/1962 Stroms 72/428 2,342,009 2/1944 Reynolds 57/ l 06 3,220,666 Ill 1965 Phillips 242/76 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-R. M. Rogers Attorney-Joseph .l. OKeefe ABSTRACT: Two series of parallel rods are arranged adjacent each other in a crossed pattern to define guide openings through which wires may pass to a closing die. The rods may be rotatably journaled to reduce wear and may also be mounted in a floating frame to provide transverse movement.

INVENTORS n J'fephen R. Baker Mic/me/ Ef/Or/er STRAND GUIDING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the forming of strand from wires and in particular the formation of parallel wire strand.

It is customary in the making of strand from individual wires to pass the wires through so-called lay plates as they are led to the stranding die. The lay plates comprise perforated wooden or metal panels. The wires pass through the perforations and are guided thereby to the stranding die in whatever arrangement may be desired. While such lay plates are effective in guiding the wires they are subject to excessive wear. Such wear disarranges the exact pattern of the wires and if a wire wears a groove in the side of one of the perforations any enlargement on the wire, such as a compression sleeve sometimes used to splice together individual wires, may catch in the groove and break the wire. Conventional lay plates must in consequence be frequently repaired or replaced. Such repairs frequently necessitate a lengthy shutdown, however, as the en tire lay plate must be disassembled to replace the individual panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have discovered that the foregoing objections may be obviated by the provision of a strand or wire-guiding apparatus comprised of two or more series of parallel rods adjustably mounted in a frame in a manner such that they can be easily replaced or adjusted when wear occurs. The series of parallel rods are arranged adjacent'to each other in a crossing pattern to define wire-guiding orifices between them. The rods may be mounted so that the crossed arrangement may be varied to provide different wire-guiding patterns and may also be rotatably journaled in the frame to decrease friction and wear between the rods and the wires. When used in the formation of parallel wire strand the parallel rods may be mounted in a floating frame freely movable transversely in response to any lateral movement of the wires passing through the guide orifices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a parallel wire strand forming line using the wire-guiding means of the present invention. 1

FIG. 2 is a view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the wire-guiding means shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the wire-guiding means shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a section of a parallel wire strand forming line similar to that shown in US. application Ser. No. 575,038,

, filed Aug. 25, 1966, by J. L. Durkee et al. in connection with which the instant invention has been found to be useful.

In FIG. 1 a series of wires 11 are shown passing from some suitable reel and prior guiding means, not shown, such as disclosed in the above-referred-to application of Durkee et al., through a first wire guide device 13 and a second floating type wire guide device 15 and then through several roller die compacting devices 17 and 19 such as described more fully in said earlier application of Durkee et al., in which compacting devices the individual wires 11 are formed into a parallel wire strand 21 as more fully described in the said Durkee et al. application.

Wire-guiding device 13 comprises two horizontal frame members 23 and 25 mounted upon a pair of support members 27 and 29. A series of spaced holes 31 are drilled in frame members 23 and 25. Alternately spaced journals 33' are particularly secured on one side of frame members 23 and 25 by machine bolts 35 passing through appropriate holes 31 and in a similar manner alternately spaced journals 37 are secured on the opposite side of frame members 23 and 25 by machine bolts 39 passing through appropriate holes 31. Journals 33 and 37 may have any suitable internal bearing construction. A series of parallel rods 41 are rotatably secured in journals 33 by means of collars 43 secured to rods 41 by set screws 45. Rods 41 may be longitudinally adjusted in journals 33 as desired by altering altering the longitudinal position of collars 43 on rods 41. A second series of parallel rods 47 are rotatably secured in journals 37 by similar collars 43 in a position such that said rods 47 cross said rods 41 at an angle. Each two rods of one group crossing two rods of the other group define an orifice between said rods. The arrangement of said orifices may be varied by altering the locations of the journals 33 and 37 on frame members 23 and 25 by securing them through different holes 31.

Each one of the wires ll-passes through one of the orifices defined between the crossed rods 41 and 47 and is guided thereby in the illustrated embodiment in a hexagonal pattern to the second floating guide device 15. Guide device 15 comprises two wooden frame sections 51 and 53 in which are mounted respectively two series of parallel hard wood rods or dowels 55 and 57. Guide plates 59 and 61 are adjustably secured to frame sections 51 and 53 respectively by wing nuts 63 on bolts 65 extending through slots 67 in guide plates 59 and 61. Guide plates 59 and 61 rest. upon the upper outer planes of the hexagonal pattern of wires 11 passing between the two crossed series of parallel dowels 55 and 57 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 and serve to support frame sections 51 and 53 spaced from the wires. A binding cord or strap 69 may be used 'to secure the ends of the rods of each series 55 and 57 together.

A third set of horizontal dowels 71 are supported in end frames 73 and 75. The dowels7l rest upon the wires 11 of the strand through which they extend. As the wires 11 move toward the compacting means 17 and 19 they tend to carry the dowels 71 with them but the forward movement of the dowels is prevented by fixed stops 77 and 79 mounted upon the floor of the shop or any other secure surface. Preferably limits 72 are provided on stops 77 and 79 to center end frames 73 and 75 and prevent excessive lateral movement of the dowels 71.

During operation of the apparatus movement of wires 11 toward and through roller dies 17 and 19 causes diagonal dowels 55 to be drawn towards and against horizontal dowels 71 and diagonal dowels 57 against dowels 55 so that guide orifices are defined by the crisscross of dowels 55 and 57 in the same manner as guide orifices are defined by the crossing of parallel rods 41 and 47.

Frames 51 and 53 and consequently dowel series 55 and 57 are completely separate from each other. This has been found preferable to having the two groups of parallel dowels 55 and 57 mounted in a single frame so that they move as a unit.

It has been found necessary for proper guidance of the wires into a compaction means 17 in the manufacture of parallel wire strand that the guide device of the invention nearest to the compaction device be a floating guide means as illustrated. In other applications of the device of the invention a fixed guide device may be quite satisfactory.

While it is preferable that the parallel rods 41 and 47 be freely rotatable to reduce wear between their surfaces and the wires, this is by no means always necessary as the wear points on the rods is so easily varied by altering the position of collars 43 on the rods that in most cases no significant wear occurs over long periods even if no rotation of the rods is provided for. The wear of hardwood dowels 55 and 57 is also minimized by adjusting guide plates 59 and 61 to vary the wear points on the dowels. In the formation of parallel wire strand hardwood has been found particularly suitable to form the dowels not only because it is light in weight and provides minimum inertial resistance to lateral movement of the wires but also if by mischance the dowels should catch on a splice or the like and be drawn into the roller die 17 no injury will result to the wires of the strand.

rotation about their longitudinal axes.

We claim: 1. A' guidefor use as an adjustable and readily repairable lay plate for movingwires comprising:

a. frame means;

b. a -first group ofa multiplicity of spaced, substantially 5 parallel rigid rods mounted in side-by-side relationship in said frame means;

c. a secondgroup of a multiplicity of spaced, substantially parallel rigidrods mounted in side-by-side relationship in said frame means; and

d. the first. group of rods being arranged adjacent to and in angular relationship to-the second group to definea pattern of a multiplicity of discrete adjacent guide openings formoving wires each said guide opening being'circumferentially defined on each of four sides by the surface of one of said parallel rods of '(b) and (c), said guide openings'being arranged in at least two groups of a multiplicity of parallel rows of guide openings with at least one of said groups, of parallel rows of guide openings being disposed parallel to the parallel rods of each group of parallel rods.

2. The guide of claim 1 whereinthe two groups of rods are adjustable in said frame means with respect to each other.

3. The guide of claim 1' wherein the rods are journaledfor '4. The guide of claim 1 wherein the rods are formed from hardwood.

direction of movement ofthe wires through said guide means.

6. The guide means of claim 5 wherein said'frame means comprises two separate units each of which mounts one of the two groups of parallel rods to allow relative movement between said two'groups of parallel rods.

7. The guideofclaim 6 wherein the restraining means for the second frame and attached parallel rods comprises a third frame with parallel rods mounted therein against which the second frame abuts.

8. A guide for directing moving wires to a forming means for parallel wire strand comprising:

a. first frame means mounted in advanceof said forming means;

b. two groups of side-by-side parallel rods mounted in said first frame means to define a guide matrix of crossed rods;

0. a second frame means positioned between said first frame means and said forming means; a

d. two groupso'f side by-side parallel rods mounted in said second frame meansto define a guide matrix of crossed rods; v

e. means movably secured to said second frame means to ride upon at least some of the wires, passing to said forming means to support said frame means and rods; and

f. means to'restrain movement of said second frame means in the direction of movement of the wires.

9. The guide of claim 8 wherein the'restraining means for the second frame and attached parallel rods comprises a third frame with parallel rods mounted therein against which the second frame abuts.

10. The guide of claim 9 wherein the second frame means comprises two separate portions each of which mounts one of the two groups-of parallel rods to allow relative movement between said two groups of parallel rods. 

1. A guide for use as an adjustable and readily repairable lay plate for moving wires comprising: a. frame means; b. a first group of a multiplicity of spaced, substantially parallel rigid rods mounted in side-by-side relationship in said frame means; c. a second group of a multiplicity of spaced, substantially parallel rigid rods mounted in side-by-side relationship in said frame means; and d. the first group of rods being arranged adjacent to and in angular relationship to the second group to define a pattern of a multiplicity of discrete adjacent guide openings for moving wires each said guide opening being circumferentially defined on each of four sides by the surface of one of said parallel rods of (b) and (c), said guide openings being arranged in at least two groups of a multiplicity of parallel rows of guide openings with at least one of said groups of parallel rows of guide openings being disposed parallel to the parallel rods of each group of parallel rods.
 2. The guide of claim 1 wherein the two groups of rods are adjustable in said frame means with respect to each other.
 3. The guide of claim 1 wherein the rods are journaled for rotation about their longitudinal axes.
 4. The guide of claim 1 wherein the rods are formed from hardwood.
 5. The guide of claim 1 additionally comprising: e. a support plate adjustably secured to said frame means and arranged to ride upon at least some of the wires passing through the guide means to support said guide means; and f. means to restrain movement of the guide means in the direction of movement of the wires through said guide means.
 6. The guide means of claim 5 wherein said frame means comprises two separate units each of which mounts one of the two groups of parallel rods to allow relative movement between said two groups of parallel rods.
 7. The guide of claim 6 wherein the restraining means for the second frame and attached parallel rods comprises a third frame with parallel rods mounted therein against which the second frame abuts.
 8. A guide for directing moving wires to a forming means for parallel wire strand comprising: a. first frame means mounted in advance of said forming means; b. two groups of side-by-side parallel rods mounted in said first frame means to define a guide matrix of crossed rods; c. a second frame means positioned between said first frame means and said forming means; d. two groups of side-by-side parallel rods mounted in said second frame means to define a guide matrix of crossed rods; e. means movably secured to said second frame means to ride upon at least some of the wires passing to said forming means to support said frame means and rods; and f. means to restrain movement of said second frame means in the direction of movement of the wires.
 9. The guide of claim 8 wherein the restraining means for the second frame and attached parallel rods comprises a third frame with parallel rods mounted therein against which the second frame abuts.
 10. The guide of claim 9 wherein the second frame means comprises two separate portions each of which mounts one of the two groups of parallel rods to allow relative movement between said two groups of parallel rods. 